Saginaw River Rear Range Light

Infobox_Lighthouse

---

caption = Saginaw River Rear Range Light
location = Bangor Township, Bay County, Michigan
coordinates = coord|43|38|7.8|N|83|51|2|W
yearlit = 1876
automated =
yeardeactivated = 1960
foundation = Timber piles/concrete/steel sheeting
construction = Cream City Brick covered with concrete
shape = Square tapered
marking = white/black trim
height = Tower - convert|55|ft|m
elevation = Focal plane - convert|77|ft|m [ [http://www.michiganlights.com/saginawriverrearrangelh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Saginaw River Light.] ]
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
range = convert|8.5|mi|km
characteristic =
ARLHS = USA-917
USCG =

Infobox nrhp
name = Saginaw River Rear Range Light
nrhp_type =
architect=
designated =
refnum = 84001373
mpsub=
governing_body =

The Saginaw Bay Lighthouse was first erected in September 1831. During this time period, a large quantity of lumber was being exported from the heart of Michigan to the eastern coast of the United States (traveling through the Erie Canal.)

In 1867, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers arrived to dredge out the Saginaw River channel so that larger vessels could navigate the river. When they were finished, the light was no longer well-positioned to allow boats navigation of the entrance. Funding requests, negotiations for land, and contractual issues delayed work until 1876, when a pair of lighthouses could be erected in a range light configuration.

The front range light was constructed on a square timber crib beside the western river bank, and took the form of a 34 ft. tall painted-white pyramid framework of timber similar in design to that being used for pierhead beacons throughout the district at the time. With its upper half sheathed, a small enclosed room was thus created beneath the gallery for the storage of oil and supplies, and in which the keeper could seek shelter while tending the light during inclement weather conditions. The gallery was surrounded with an iron safety railing and capped with a prefabricated octagonal cast iron lantern. Seated atop a cast iron pedestal within the lantern, the light's sparkling new fixed white sixth order Fresnel lens sat at a focal plane of 37 ft., sending its light 8 ½ miles out into the bay. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/saginaw/saginaw.htm Terry Pepper, Saginaw River Rear Range Light.] ]

The rear range light was constructed 2300 ft. south of the mouth of the river. Eleventh district engineer Major Godfrey Weitzel's design for the combined rear range tower and dwelling was unique. Consisting of a large elevated concrete base supporting a combined brick dwelling and tower, the swampy ground in the chosen site first required the driving of timber piles deep into the ground to provide a solid foundation on which timber forms for the concrete base could be erected and filled. Atop this concrete foundation, a square two-story Cream City brick Lighthouse keeper's dwelling 26' 6" in plan was constructed. Integrated into the northwest corner of the dwelling, a tapered 53' tall square tower with double walls housed a set of prefabricated cast iron spiral stairs. Winding from the cellar to the lantern, these stairs also serve as the only means of access to the first and second floors by way of landings on each floor, each outfitted with tightly fitting arch-topped iron doors designed to stem the spread of fire between floors. A timber deck supported by timber columns encircled the dwelling at the first floor level, providing easy and dry access to all sides of the structure. The living quarters consisted of a kitchen, parlor and oil storage room on the first floor, and three bedrooms above. The tower was capped with a square iron gallery, supported by five cast iron corbels on each of its four sides. An octagonal cast iron lantern was installed at its center, with a fixed white fourth order Fresnel lens placed at a focal plane of 61 ft. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/saginaw/saginaw.htm Terry Pepper, Saginaw River Rear Range Lght.] ]

The light stayed active, and the residence for the Coast Guard facility until the 1970s when the Coast Guard Station was moved across the river in order to have more space. The station stayed empty until 1986 when Dow Chemical Company [ [http://www.dow.com/about/corp/social/case.htm Dow Chemical Company.] [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/saginawriver.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com Saginaw River Rear Range Light.] ] , which owned the surrounding land, purchased the facility and boarded it up. In 1999, the Saginaw River Maritime Historical Society (SRMHS) asked Dow if they could work together. At the current time, the property is not generally available, but renovation is being done by the SRMHS.

It is generally believed (but not well documented) that the Saginaw River lighthouse was the first place where range lights were installed. More details are available in the article on Lighthouses.

In 2002, the Saginaw Valley Marine Historical Society "acquired a historic locomotive-style range lens of the type used in the lighthouse between 1930 and 1960." [ [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Saginaw River Rear Range Light, University of North Carolina.] ]

This lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Reference #84001373Name of Listing: SAGINAW RIVER LIGHT STATION (U.S. COAST GUARD/GREAT LAKES TR) [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/saginaw.htm National Park Service, Maritime History Project, Inventory of Lights, Saginaw River light.] ] Restoration efforts are being conducted by: Saginaw River Marine Historical Society, Dept. W, P.O. Box 2051, Bay City, Michigan 48707-2051. [ [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/saginawriver.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com Saginaw River Rear Range Light.] ]

It is located on west of the Saginaw River about 2/3 mile (1.1 km) south of Saginaw Bay, north of Bay City

Bibliography and further reading

* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.]
* Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, "The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses" (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
* Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. "The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes." Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
* Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, "American Lighthouses" (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0762703245; ISBN 978-0762703241.
* Jones, Ray,"The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference" (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0762727357; ISBN 978-0762727353.
* Noble, Dennis, "Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy" (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1557506388; ISBN 9781557506382.
* Oleszewski, Wes, "Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses", (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
* Penrod, John, "Lighthouses of Michigan", (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
*
* Putnam, George R., "Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
* United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation", (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
* [http://www.uscg.mil/History/weblighthouses/h_lhbib.asp United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation Historical Bibliography".]
*
* Wagner, John L., "Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective", (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
* Wargin, Ed, "Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio" (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). ISBN 9781587262517.
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993

Notes

External links

* [http://www.michigan.org/travel/attractions/?m=2;9 A comprehensive (and interactive with geographic locations) listing of Michigan lighthouses and museums, complete with pictures and descriptions]
* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/GL/HuronW.htm Interactive map of lighthouses in area.]
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Saginaw%20River%20Rear%20Range%20Light Lighthouse Central, Saginaw River Rear Range Light Photographs, History and Directions, "The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006).] ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Saginaw River Rear Range Light, University of North Carolina.]
* [http://www.michiganlights.com/saginawriverrearrangelh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Saginaw River Light.]
* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/MLFHome.html Michigan Lighthouse organization.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_mhc_shpo_lightmap_50933_7.pdf Map of Michigan Lighthouse] in PDF Format.
* National Park Service [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/saginaw.htm , Maritime History Project, Inventory of Lights, Saginaw River light.]
* [http://www.boatnerd.com/museums/srmhs/ Saginaw River Marine Historical Society.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/saginaw/index.htm Saginaw River Rear Range Light] at Seeing the Light by Terry Pepper.]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.6355,-83.850556&spn=0.005474,0.011019&t=k&q=43.6355,-83.850556&z=17&om=1 Satellite view of Saginaw River Rear Range Light, Google maps.]
* U.S. Coast Guard [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp 's complete list of Michigan lights with photographs and descriptions, including Saginaw River Rear Range Light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/saginawriver.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com Saginaw River Rear Range Light.]